Canterbury fullback Ben Barba won't have to look far if he needs inspiration during the Bulldogs' NRL clash with North Queensland.

On Friday night at ANZ Stadium Barba will line-up against the NRL player who has inspired him since he was a kid - Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen.

The 22-year-old Barba was born in Darwin and moved to Mackay with his family when he was a young boy.

When he was just out of primary school he met a then 19-year-old Bowen.

A decade later, Townsville product Bowen is an NRL star and Barba a rising star.

"I'm really looking forward to playing one of my idols," Barba said.

"I was only just out of primary school when I met him ... (and) I got the chance to spend some time with him playing for the Indigenous All Stars ... from knowing him growing up I've always admired him.

"He's not the biggest of blokes but I love the way he carries himself in a game, he's got so much heart it's incredible.

"Everything he does is just professional and he's a great bloke to model yourself on.

"He's been one of the best fullbacks in the comp and has been for a long time and if I can play anything like him it would be a dream come true."

Barba's attacking wizardry has made him one of the NRL's most exciting ball runners but he has plenty of critics when it comes to taking bombs.

The livewire No.1 knows the Cowboys will test him on Friday night.

"I expect that every game really ... the bombs and that sort of stuff," Barba said.

"I just have to keep working hard on it at training and do my best in the game."

The Bulldogs, four points outside the top eight, are up against it to make the finals but Barba said the side quickly dusted themselves off after last week's painful 32-28 loss to Sydney Roosters.

"It was disappointing but Bobcat (captain Andrew Ryan) and Jimmy (coach Jim Dymock) told us to pick our heads up because we've still got a chance to make the eight," he said.

"The only way we can make it now is to win five games ... we are going to play every game like it's our last from here on in."

The third-placed Cowboys are in top form and have defied the critics by continuing to win without champion halfback Johnathan Thurston.

But history is against them winning at ANZ Stadium, a ground they haven't enjoy a victory at in five years.

The Bulldogs have beaten the Cowboys in their past three clashes.

There is more than just the incentive of playing finals football driving the Bulldogs after Ryan announced during the week that he would retire at the end of the season.

"I think that's going to lift us. Bobcat has been a great role model and clubman and we want to send him out on top, so we have to rip in for him," he said.

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